2018 Volume 57 Issue 1 Pages 39-44
Background : Salivary duct carcinomas (SDCs) are high-grade malignant tumors of the salivary glands that are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Herein, we report a case of SDC of the parotid gland with multiple metastases that showed sarcomatoid components.
Case : A woman in her 70’s presented to us with swellings in her left parotid and submandibular regions. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed large clusters of malignant cells, however, the histological features could not be predicted prior to the surgery. The findings of imprint cytology from the excised tumor were consistent with SDC and the tumor was diagnosed by histopathological examination as SDC. The specimens revealed both adenocarcinomatous and sarcomatoid components, and the latter were also observed in the metastatic tumors in the submandibular gland and lymph nodes. Nine months after the initial treatment, metastatic tumors were detected clinically in the lungs and adrenals. Transbronchial scraping cytology revealed sarcomatoid cells alone.
Conclusion : When conducting cytological examinations of SDC, it is necessary to consider alterations of the cellular morphology caused by metastasis.
